BROOMFIELD ? U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday that she is “very proud” of Gov. Jared Polis and Colorado for working to protect the Affordable Care Act.

The California Democrat, her party’s highest-ranking member of Congress, visited Broomfield for a panel discussion on health care with U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Lafayette, and Colorado Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway, at the Omni Interlocken Hotel.

Pelosi and Conway both said that continuing to support the ACA, also known as Obamacare, while building upon the federal health law is the best way forward for Colorado and the nation.

“We consider the Affordable Care Act as a pillar of financial and health security for America’s families,” Pelosi said. “We believe that health care is a right for all Americans not a privilege for a few.”

Pelosi praised Colorado for voting to expand Medicaid and for more recent accomplishments by state leaders, including Polis’ reinsurance plan aimed at lowering premiums on individual health policies, a bill that decreased insulin costs, and ongoing efforts to combat surprise billing and high pharmaceutical prices.

She said that Colorado is “leading the way” when it comes to making improvements to the ACA.

Conway agreed that the reinsurance plan is a success for the state, saying it will put thousands of dollars back into people’s pockets which could be “life changing.”

“The reinsurance program is only possible because of the Affordable Care Act,” he added.

Pelosi made several references to the Trump Administration’s anti-ACA stance, but refrained from saying the president’s name.

“In the first year, the year before the election of … the current occupant of the White House,” she said, drawing laughs from the audience. “The year before we won in 2020, they had done such damage to the Affordable Care Act but we were able to protect it.”

Conway noted that the state continues to work on improving the ACA foundation, and said that he is currently touring Colorado to discuss a public option with residents.

“We continue to fight like hell to protect the Affordable Care Act,” Conway said. “It’s truly an exciting time to be a part of all of this in Colorado.”

Not everyone agrees that the ACA is the best way forward.

Members of Our Revolution Boulder stood outside the event before it began to call attention to their preference for a “Medicare for All” plan of public insurance, which they believe is a superior option.

“Most Coloradans want to see improved Medicare for All and not have the ACA fixed,” said Vice Chair Marie Adams. “We need to join the rest of the Western industrialized world and provide healthcare as a human right to our citizens.”

Adams believes the biggest problem with the ACA is the conservative states that did not agree to expand Medicaid, leading to millions of people currently being uninsured.

“The fact that 30,000 to 45,000 people die every year over lack of affordable health care is a disgrace to this country,” Adams said.

Pelosi acknowledged the fact that not all states opted the same way Colorado did.

“Some state did not expand Medicaid, unfortunately,” she said. “I can’t explain that, but nonetheless, thank God Colorado did.”

She touched on the Medicare for All option, but grouped it as one idea under possible improvements to the ACA.

“The path is the ACA [and] how you could expand that to make sure there is Medicare, health care for all Americans, whatever form that may take,” she said.

Adams said that taking steps to improve the current health care system is not enough.

“I would like [Pelosi] to recognize that health care is a human right; that it is time for improved Medicare for All,” Adams said. “Incrementalism isn’t gonna get us where we need to be now…if the rest of the world can figure this out, we can too.”

A spokesperson for the Colorado Republican National Committee agreed with one small part of the discussion.

“Nancy Pelosi was right about one thing today, Obamacare has laid the groundwork for 2020 Democrats who want to take away private health insurance from over 3 million Coloradans,” said Kyle Kohli. “While Democrats continue to debate the quickest way to establish government-run health care, President Trump is delivering a booming economy and record job growth. The choice for Colorado couldn’t be clearer.”

The panel was asked what they will do to protect health care rights with the current Supreme Court composition.

“The Affordable Care Act is the law of the land; it is the responsibility of the Justice Department to support and protect the law of the land,” Pelosi said.

She added that if the Trump administration continues to “attack” the ACA, then that is “a fight that we are ready for.”